Solera is on a journey to transform the collision claims process as we know it
The automotive industry is smack-dab in the middle of some massive transformations. With challenges like vehicle electrification, rising repair complexity, diverse technologies facing the industry, Bill Brower, senior vice president of global industry relations and North American claims, believes the collision repair industry will experience more change in the next five years than it’s seen in the past 20 years.
As a global provider of claims technologies, Solera aims to lead the way in how the automotive industry navigates these factors. Two ways the company is forging new methods in the automotive industry: through its pursuit of sustainable collision claims and via the incorporation of advanced AI technologies in its Qapter estimating platform.
Collision Repair mag spoke to Brower to hear firsthand the various ways Solera is shaking things up for the benefit of bodyshops, insurance providers and consumers alike.
WHAT IS A ‘SUSTAINABLE CLAIM’?
“When you think about collision claims, the question of sustainability is: how is this car being repaired? At Solera, we have been researching sustainability and working in this space for about three and a half years to create sustainable estimatics,” said Brower.
“In summary, sustainable estimatics measures the amount of carbon that’s generated in a collision repair. Sustainable estimatics provides guidance on how to lower emissions.”
When asked why a collision centre would be interested in pursuing sustainable claims, Brower said Solera’s advice for more sustainable practices—which includes strategies like using green recycled parts wherever possible, and repair over replace—can enable lower cycle times, length of rental and keep technicians happy.
“Plus consumers, in most cases, prefer to go for the eco-friendly collision repair,” he added.
As a global company that recognizes the collision industry’s carbon emissions contributions, Solera feels that sustainability is an area where the company can pave a way for the collision repair ecosystem.
Solera’s sustainable claims technology is ISO certified. It tracks a company’s emissions in the three scopes of carbon.
“Scope one is the carbon you produce in your own bodyshop, the emissions that you control. Scope two carbon emissions arise from the energy used in your shop. Your shop may be powered by a local electric company; that could be run by solar power, hydroelectric, et cetera.”
“Scope three is the most difficult to track,” added Brower. “This would be the carbon created in the creation of parts that you, the collision centre, ultimately use in your repair. So, it’s all of the carbon emissions created in that process, from the gathering of raw materials to developing the part and shipping the part.”
The Solera sustainable claims score card tracks carbon emissions in the different scopes and presents that information to the business, along with strategies on how to reduce emissions contributions. The company put the technology and their sustainable mission as a whole on display for the industry at the first-ever Automotive Sustainability Summit, hosted by Solera and Simplicity Car Care, in June.
“We heard loud and clear from the insurance companies represented that this is a high priority and we must do more to drive sustainability in collision repair claims,” said Brower. “Our Sustainability Council is a way for Simplicity Car Care and Solera to bring the industry together to discuss strategies for sustainability. See what we can do together to move the needle toward a more sustainable industry, particularly in Canada.”
INCORPORATION AI IN ESTIMATING
Sebastian Torres, president and owner of CARSTAR Torcam Group has used Solera’s AI estimating features in a recent capacity management overhaul. He’s raved about the technology’s abilities. In January, Torres’ Brantford store was about four to six weeks backlogged. By June, backlogs were down to one to two weeks. He told breakout session attendees that the results have been amazing.
“I can honestly say this work with Solera has become the most rewarding partnership of my career,” said Torres, adding that he’s already seen significant increases in yearly sales.
Torres stressed that AI is a tool, not a magic wand. The technology can shave a 90-minute non-drive estimate down to a 20-minute job, but AI is no replacement for a human being.
“If you invest in a welder, or a frame rack, or in training for a technician, why would you not invest in AI? It’s a tool that can help your team work more productively. The estimate is 85 to 90 percent complete by the time the vehicle reaches disassembly.”
Solera’s AI tech is constantly learning from photos submitted to the system globally.
“AI is transformative for our industry—particularly for bodyshops,” said Brower. “If you think about running a bodyshop today, you want to be as efficient as can be. Personally, I’d like to be able to capture the damage through photographs, create an estimate electronically and speed up the process.”
BRINGING BOTH TOGETHER
With sustainable efforts and artificial intelligence-empowered estimatics, Solera is leading the way in transforming the claims industry for the benefit of the environment and businesses operating in the automotive repair sector.
“We feel that, in this era of transformation, Solera can help lead the automotive industry by sharing the message of sustainability and leveraging the power of new technologies.”
